Wealth and the Wealthy

By Rudolph Frazier

Wealth and the Wealthy is a fascinating and detailed commentary on wealth, not only in its conventional context, but also in its many facets. The author delves into how Americans of various diversities bring to the tableby virtue of their very own uniquenessa valuable service that we not only as Americans profit from but the international market as well.

One of the more interesting points about the book is that the author, in seeking to satisfy a seeming thirst on the part of the hoi polloi in how the other half lives, succeedswith some ironyin the shocking revelation that the masses are in some respects the other half. As Americans they are not only likely to be the owners of high-tech gadgets in their homes, but they are also the consumers of services and products given them by billion-dollar, Fortune 500 companies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524587963

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Rudolph Frazier.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2017903256

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-5245-8798-7

                Softcover        978-1-5245-8797-0

                eBook             978-1-5245-8796-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Rev. date: 06/06/2017

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Contents

Foreword

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Invitation

Chapter 2 The Paths To Wealth

Chapter 3 Who Are The Wealthy

Chapter 4 How The Wealthy Live

Chapter 5 The Theoretics Of Wealth

Chapter 6 Wealth And The Twenty-Ish

Chapter 7 Wealth And The Thirty-Ish

Chapter 8 Wealth And The Forty-Ish

Chapter 9 Wealth And The Fifty-Ish

Chapter 10 Wealth And Race

Chapter 11 Wealth And The Jewry

Chapter 12 Wealth And Style

Chapter 13 Tales Of Wealth

Chapter 14 The Wealth That Was

Chapter 15 Wealth And Corporate America

Endnotes

FOREWORD

T hese writings set forth herein are in direct reply- much like that to the inquisitive rappings upon a door- for fans and readers around the globe who didst visit that much talked-about website, Fuszball.com/blog (defunct), read the assorted posts therefrom and subsequently opted to comment principally upon those topics wealth-related in what may be a telling sign of the insatiable thirst on the part of the populace to acquaint themselves more with this phenomena so now named, Wealth And The Wealthy . Responding as they did, their comments and ‘bias’ did set in motion a train of thought and did leave the author feeling somewhat obliged to render to his loyal fans and readers further writings of some length on this topic.

Moreover the king (Solomon) made a great throne made of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold."

"And all the drinking vessels of King Solomon were of gold and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebandon were of pure gold; none were of silver…

And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horseman……

And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.

- II Chronicles

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dedication

Dedicated to my

mother, Mary O’Neil Frazier,

whose simple and quiet dignity still resonates from

beyond, some twenty-eight years later across time and space,

manifesting itself herenow in the minds of family and

friends as an abstract but real memory. In addition, as a former resident of Charleston, South Carolina, I’d like to further dedicate these writings to the nine casualties whose lives were lost in the most tragic of circumstances.

INTRODUCTION

L adies and Gentlemen, these collection of writings do revolve around wealth, its many a facets, and they who possess them. Not one to dilly-dally, it is the author’s fervent wish to unveil his finished writings to his readership and move onto that which he considers of primary importance; however, he feels somewhat compelled to address the sensitive matter of……… race here before laying bare his writings and personal views on wealth. There be those-no doubt-upon viewing the Dedication Page and seeing the matronly photo of my mother, have summarily concluded that I am a person of color and I say to them, Congratulations on your powers of observation! Sherlock Holmes couldn’t have done a better job. I make no secret-if such a thing is possible- of having descended from a long line of ancestors to manifest the ‘Negroid’ strain since the dawn of man. Give both the men and women ci gars!

And now that the man behind the ‘curtains’ has been unmasked in Oz-like fashion, or at least his ….., there is, I’m sure, some consternation. My profoundest apology for such a four-syllable word as consternation at the outset here but the author believes it to be an appropriately-used term albeit a pedantic one, unfortunately. Merriam-Webster defines the word as feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected. Given the definition, would the reader not say that the term can be applied here to those picking up my book and finding me to not only be a person of color, particularly African American, but one who has penned such a brazen topic as he has? Were you not just the least bit taken aback at learning that an African American had authored this work? If you were not, you are of another breed; if you were, then I’d say you were as normal as the ebb of the waters out to sea after the storm or the crow of the rooster at the crack of dawn. If it seems a bit peculiar that an African American should be writing about wealth, it might be a consequence of Americans-blacks included- having been lobotomized, that is, ‘Bill Gate-ized,’ or ‘Warren Buffet-ized’ when it comes to wealth in this country. This has for the most part put a white face on the concept of true wealth and deservedly so. I think we-the collective mind- all drink from the same watering hole when I say the vast majority of wealth lies in the hands of non-coloreds in this country. If the fiefdom of wealth is one which cannot be readily identifiable with the African American, it might be because the African American, having debuted here, I’m told, in the mid-1500’s, has had two –and –one-half centuries of wealth-building potential taken from him/her, putting them in the unfortunate and inauspicious position of having had no wealth for succeeding generations to build upon.

Furthermore, their ascent up the socio-economic ladder, hampered by discriminatory Federal, state, and local statutes, was at such a slow pace, they did become a ‘poster child’ for poverty at one point in American history, leaving an indelible impression upon the nation’s psyche liken to a red hot branding iron. Consequently, this insufferable image of the African American became synonymous with those things anathema to wealth, namely poverty, illiteracy, crime and all the other social afflictions in America. The aforementioned elements, along with racism and a religion, I dare say, that had, at one time, taught them that poverty is virtuous, have conspired seemingly to take the African American ‘out of the loop,’ so to speak, when it comes to wealth. In light of these undeniable and grievous truths, one might wonder how an African American can step forth at this late date and speak unabashedly about, of all things, a topic such as wealth. Inquiring minds liken to the priests and scribes mentioned in Luke 20:1-2 might ask, By what authority doest thou these things? Or who is he that gave you such authority?

[The author, undaunted, smiles and utters three words…….. BECAUSE I CAN!!]

Regrettably, the author all of sudden finds himself cast in the uncomfortable, yet unavoidable, role of both scholar and historian. A scholar for they who may not know and historian for they who may know but are of need in reminding that long before there was a U.S. of A, there was wealth and that it was spread among continents and people of varying hues. Long before wealth as we know it today in America became marginalized, there was the African and the wealth of his forefathers predated that of America’s-a truth that is irrefutable. Might we now divest ourselves of the notion of wealth being identified only with a particular race of people? That being said, I must give the white man here in America his due. He has succeeded in putting together a glorious union in which the inhabitants experience more wealth and a higher standard of living than any nation of people at present.

And now without further ado……..

[There seated in the midst of a festive décor of such trappings as marquetry inlays, swags and such, we find the author giving an ear to Tom Jones’ version of With These Hands. The chamber’s bouquet of rose water, citrus oils, orange flower, and spices penetrate the senses like a well-honed dagger. One’s attention is instantly brought to bear upon a nearby marble-top Louis XV side table whereupon sits a sculptured glass vase (vᾰs) of carefully-arranged roses. Sitting magisterially, and basking in the overhead lights— the vase bring all eyes upon it. Its form, relief, and brilliance can only be defined as the unmistakable, world-renowned Lalique. The roses housed are a dark and purplish red as opposed to a flat and one-dimensional red. The depth of the red screams a crimson hue. A red that stirs the human soul and gives meaning and substance to an otherwise dull likeness. A red that those in search for the meaning of life would spend eternity in search of were it not for the thing giving of itself so ungrudgingly. Positioned behind the author, a rich– coloured, larger-than-life oil painting done in the style of a Renaissance master, perhaps Reuben or that most famous of all whose name I will not mention as to do so at this point might be deemed sensational. In the painting a woman, surrounded by a tranquil countryside of rustic farmhouses and grazing animals, shoulders a horn of plenty from which she pours out the contents before joyous laughing children. The painting’s appointment lends an air of aristocracy what with its brazen patina and gilded baroque-style framing. The overall feel of the room, decidedly Neoclassical. The author has prudently chosen this opulent setting—not for affectation purposes mind you— but merely to set the tone and mood given the subject at present- to stay in character if you will. The darkened day skies do foretell the coming of the rains, do they not? And doeth not the early morning dawn introduce the day’s sunrise? The author now fixes his Svengali-like gaze on his imaginary audience and begins to address them, speaking of himself in the 3rd person─as so often the case─ to avoid inciting those who might perceive his opinionated façade and flowery language to be nothing more than rampant egotism run amuck or perhaps the rantings of a supercilious popinjay.]

CHAPTER 1

The Invitation

I n much the same unabated fashion as the young lad all aglow at Xmas thanking his parents for the shiny new bike they have just gifted him, the author expresses his deep gratitude to both the Loyal Family of Readers and the Curious Family. The Loyal Family- for the enthusiasm and energy put forth in having lept the divide from reading his blogs to buying his book. The Curious-for not only buying his book but for the inquisitiveness making for such a grand and grateful event. In addition to his gratitude, he gives invites to both the previously mentioned for the purpose of joining him